Adjustable reel to hold yarn or thread



2 A. BLANTON 7 2,476,176

v ADJUSTABLE REEL TO HOLD YARN OR THREAD Filed April 15, 1947 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m Q L fi- INVENTOR. :QZO/ZZo Blank/2,

ATTEI R N EYS July 12, 1949. A, L. BLANTON ADJUSTABLE REEL TO HOLD YARN OR THREAD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1947 A INVENTOR. vqzoflzo L- BZaniwz,

ATTDRN EYE July 12, 1949. A. L. BLANTON 2,476,176

ADJUSTABLE REEL TO HOLD YARN OR THREAD Filed April 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A74 INVENTOR. 25 -yQZ0/220 L. EZQnZU/Z,

ATTC] RN EYB Patented July 12,1949

OFFICE ADJUSTABLE REEL TO HOLD YARN on THREAD Alonzo L. Blanton, Orange, Tex.

Application April 15, 1947', Serial No. 741,586

This invention relates to an adjustable reel for holding yarn or thread while being used in knitting, crocheting and so forth.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable reel for holding yarn or thread which can be adjusted to permit the insertion of a skein of yarn thereover and which when released will hold the yarn tight automatically by a spring arrangement within the reel and wherein the reel can be easily adjusted while inserting the yarn thereover.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an adjustable yarn supporting reel which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed, description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my adjustable reel with the arms extended to retain the yarn.

Fig. 2 is an elevational View of the adjustable reel with the arms retracted so that the yarn can be disposed thereover.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through the hub of the reel and showing how the various parts of the reel are connected together.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective View of one of the yarn retaining arms.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the links which pivot the yarn.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a sleeve in which the arms are pivoted.

Referring now to the figures, represents a base from which there extends upwardly a vertical support II. To this vertical support there is connected an axle l2 having a large portion [3 against which a Wire plate [4 abuts. This wire plate is fitted on a hub l5 and the hub is retained on the axle l2 by a washer I6 and a nut I! fitted on a threaded end l8 of the axle. The enlarged portion l3 of the axle has a flange l9 and this flange is connected by means of bolts 2| to the upright support ll.

Connected to the hub l5 are radially extending spokes 22 having a bearing 23 fixed on their outer ends and retained in fixed position by a sleeve 24 extending over the bearing to retain yarn supporting arms 25 within a groove 26 in the bearing 23. There is one of these arms connected to each radially extending member. The arm 25 has an inwardly bent portion 21 formed in the shape of a U to receive the yarn. A hori- 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-111) 2 M I zontal portion 28 extends through the groove 26 of the bearing 23 and continuing inwardly from this horizontal portion 29 is a portion 3! having a link 32 connected with the same to pivot the arm within the bearing 23 so as to reduce the diameter of the reel while placing the skein of yarn thereon. The links 32 are pivotally connected at their opposite ends to a disc 34 journalled on the hub l5 and retained thereon against axial displacement by the wear plate M which is connected by the screws 35 with the hub [5. One of the links 32 has an extension 33 to which a tension spring 31 is connected. The opposite end of the tension spring is connected or anchored to the disc 34 as indicated at 38.

On one of the portions 3| of one arm 25 is a handle 39 which when depressed will cause rotational movement of the disc 34 and a retraction of the yarn supporting arms 25 so that the yarn can be disposed into the U-shaped formation 21 of the arm. Thereafter the handle 39 is relieved and the spring 3! will return the arms to their original condition and in tight engagement with the yarn which has been extended over the yarn supporting arms 25.

A member 4| extends outwardly from the support ll and has an eye formation 42 thereon through which the yarn is threaded and through which the yarn is pulled to remove it from the reel. This yarn will be pulled as the user of the arm desires it for the knitting operation.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable reel for yarn comprising a base with an upright support thereon, an axle fixed to the upper end of the upright support, a hub journalled on the axle, radially extending arms extending in spoke-like fashion from the hub, said radially extending arms having a bearing on their respective outer ends, a groove in said bearing open at one side thereof yarn supporting arms respectively having a U-shaped portion at their outer ends and a horizontal portion journalled in the groove in the bearing on the radially extending arm and a radially inwardly extending portion extending inwardly from the horizontal portion, a sleeve extendable over the bearing to close the open side of the groove, whereby to removably retain the horizontal portion of the yarn supporting arms within the groove in the bearing a plate journalled on the hub, links respectively connected between the radially inwardly extending portions and the plate and spring means anchored between the plate and one of the links whereby to maintain a spring pressure upon the yarn supporting arms.

2. An adjustable reel as defined in claim 1, and one of the arms having on its radially inwardly extending portion a laterally and tangentially extending handle adapted to be depressed so as to retract in unison all of the yarn supporting arms.

. 3. An adjustable reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate is journalled at one side of the hub, said axle portion is provided with a shoulder thereon, and a wear plate is connected to the hub outwardly of the plate for engagement with the shoulder and adapted to retain the plate upon the hub against axial displacement thereupon.

4 4. An adjustable reel as defined in claim 1, and an arm extending upwardly from the vertical support having an eye thereon through which the yarn can be threaded and through which the yarn can be drawn from the reel.

ALONZO L. BLANTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record, in the 

